Fountain brush



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. H. K. RUTHERFORD FOUNTAIN BRUSH Stumm@ Patented ltflar. Ztl), 1223. l

HARRY K. RUTHERFORD, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOUNTAIN BRUSH.

Application ler October 10, 1921. Serial No. 506,769.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, HARRY K. RUTHER- Fono, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of ennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Fountain Brushes, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to. fountain brushes and provides a device of this type which includes in compact form a soap chamber, and a control valve which is conveniently operable to cause water to be fed to the brush either through or around such soap chamber.

rlhe preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal aXial section of the complete device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the valve in a different position.

Fig. 1 is a section on the line 41-4 of Fig. 3. 0

rig. 5 is an elevation of the device with parts broken away to show the internal construction.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the spring plate of the valve and its sealing leather assembled.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the rotary valve.

Fig. 8 is perspective view of the valve seat and its sealing leather assembled witheach other, as they would appear before they are mounted in the cup-shaped fitting which houses the valve.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the flanged end of the soap chamber.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary axial section on an enlarged scale showing` how the bristles are mounted on the brush shell.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

12 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification.

The valve structure is housed in, and the other parts of the device are removably mounted on a cup-shaped fitting 12 which has a tubular handle 13 to which a flexible hose 14 is connected. rlhis hose brings water to the device from any suitable source. A heat-insulating grip 15 surrounds tubular iandle 13 to protect the hand of the user when the device is used with hot water. The handle 13 may have any angular relation to the brush, but l prefer the one illustrated in which the handle is at slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the brush.

The valve structure includes a disc valve 16 rotatably mounted on a bolt 17 between a valve seat and a disc spring. The seat consists of a metal platel 18 which carries. riveted or otherwise suitably connected thereto, a sealing gasket 19 of leather or the like. The spring consists of a dished plate of metal 20 also provided with a sealing gasket 21 of leather or the lile. rlhe bolt 1'? not only serves as a journal for the valve, but also Oilers means to apply pressure to spring disc 2O and thus produces sealing contact with both faces of the valve 16.

The plate 18 is Xedly mounted in fitting 12 by soldering or otherwise, the parts numbered 16 to 21 inclusive being assembled before the plate 18 is so mounted. The valve 16 is rotated by a linger piece 22 `which projects through a slot 23 in litting 12. The linger piece 22 is bent to shape after the parts are assembled and is so positioned as readily to be manipulated with the thumb while the user grasps the grip 15. The spring plate 20 and its gasket 21 are held against rotation in casing 12 by means of a small lug 24 on the periphery of plate 20 which engages a shallow groove in itting 12.

This maintains alinement of the ports in the valve seat and spring member. There are two series of such ports in each member, an outer annular series of ports 25 and an inner annular series of ports 26. The valve 16 has an outer annular series of ports 27 and an inner annular series of ports 28. The ports 25. 26. 27 and 28, and the slot 23 are so dimensioned that in one limiting position of finger-piece 22 ports 25 are open and ports 26 closed, in the other limiting position ports 26 are open and ports 25 closed, and in an intermediate position all ports are closed.

The plate 18 carries two headed studs 29 which engage in key-hole slots 30 in flange 31 of the perforated cylindrical soap chamber or cage 32 and thus serve as means for releasably connecting chamber 32 to plate 18. Flange 31 has openings 33 which register with ports 25 of plate 18.

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communicate with the interior of chamber 32 and ports 25 With the space surrounding.

said chamber, but within a second surrounding perforated shellV 34. The shell 34 is threaded at 35 into fitting 12 and bearsat its end against flange 31. The shell 34 thus holds flange 31 tightly againstv plate'18, the studs 29 being merely for convenience in assembling the device, and to maintain the alinement of openings 88 with ports 25.

` The* shell 34 not only holds cage or chamber 32 in place but also acts to sustain the relatively light shell 36 of the brush. The shell 36 is cylindrical and of metal spirally corrugated, So as to offer an external groove Within Which the bristles 37 are held by a fwire 38 Wound around the shell 36. The

end of shell 36 also carries bristles 39 Which are drawn through `holes in the end plates and wired in place With Wires 40. The sides 'andends of shell 36 are perforated to permit y'the passage of Water tothe bristles.

Shell 36 fits loosely over shell 34 but fits tightly over `the margin of fitting 12 to.

Which it is heldby pins 41 engaging in bayonet slots 42,

Since the shell 34 merely sustains shell 36,

.and .acts as a locking ring to hold flange 31, it obviously is capable of considerable modification of form, according to the amount of support required by.. shell 36. The construction shown `is adopted because simple and inexpensive.

In Fig. 12 I `show a modification in'ivhich the shell 34 and the threads 85 as Well as 'pins'29 and slots 30 of Figs. 1 to 11 fareen- '.tirely omitted. The'shell 36 is soldered at Y43 to fthe fiange 31y of shell 32, and the two shells thus form a unit structure Which is 1 releasably held in 'fitting 12 by the pins 41.

In this case the pins 41 are preferably fixed in shell 36 and engage bayonet slots 42 iny fitting v12. The pins 41 are preferably equal in number. With `ports 25A andy uniformly spaced to ensure register of ports 83 .and 25 While permitting the shell 36 to be mounted von fitting 12 in various positions.

In either construction the shell 32 may be perforated over its entire surface, as shown,

or the perforationsmay be located chiefly at' or near'the end remotefrom valve 16. By

. locating the perforations at kor near tlieend,

the soapchamber 'and the surrounding space v"are more effectively isolated When ports 26 v areclosed' and the water has a longer; travel is connected to asuitable Water supply the through 'the soap when ports 26. are open: l... To prepare the embodiment ofthe device `shown in Figs. 1 to 11 for use, theshells v36, 34 and 32 are-successively removed, the

valve 16 may be manipulated to cause clear Water or soapy Water alternativelyto flow to the brush. The valve servesalso to cut off all Water flow when desired.

Stated more specifically, in one limit-ing' Vposition of ifalve 16 water flows through handle 13 and ports 25 and 27 to the space between shells 32 and 34 and thence through shells and` 36 to the brush. In the other limiting position of valve 16 Water flows through handle 1S and ports 2G and 2 8 to the interior of shell Where it dissolves and carries with it somev of the soap contained in shell 32. Thence this soapy Water flows through. shells 32, 214 and vto the brush. In an intermediate position of valve 16 all Water flou7 is cut olf.

The embodiment. shown in Fig. 'crates in a similar manner.

Advantages offered by the invention are the simplicity and .adjustabi'lity of the valve, the readiness With which the various shells may be removed and replaced, and theV possibility of mounting the brush in different positions so as to equalize the Wear, this last feature being secured by the symmetrical ar-v rangen'ient of a plurality of pins41 and bayonet slots 42. Since thev brush houses the Water and soap chambers the structure is compact and contact of metal parts; With objects being Washed is prevented. 'Ihe entire deviceincluding Vthe valve, can be manipulated With one hand. i

Certain substitutions andt4 modifications are Within the scope of the invention. `IFor example., other scrubbing means, pervious to water,` maybe substituted for the vvbristle brush shown. As these are known equivalents in the Vart 1 deem it unnecessary to illustrate them. Hence I use the terms ybrush and brush head inthe claims as a generic term to include suoli known equivalents,'ex cept Where the term is specifically limited to bristles.

What Iclaiin is y t 1. .In aV fountain .brush the combination of a supporting member provided with a handle and a Water connection; a hollow substanv tially cylindrical fountain brush head removably mounted` on said supporting member with its axis extending in the general -direction of/thefhandle a .foraminous soap chamber im ounted onsaid A,supporting meinber .Within .and inspaced relation to said brush head; a multiple-Way valveA mounted onsaid supportingmeinbcr constructed and arranged to direct Waterfrom said connec* tionl alternatively to theV interior of said chamber or tothe space between said chamber and said brushhead; and an actuator for said valve mounted vony .said supporting member inv position to be actuated by the hand of auser While grasping said handle.

2. In a fountain brush, the combination of a supportingmernber provided with a handle and a Water connecti`on;a hollow substam' 12 opi medios tially cylindrical ountain brush head removably mounted on said supporting member; a ported Soap confining chamber removably mounted on said supporting member within and in spaced relation to Said brush head; a multiple-way valve constructed and arranged to direct water from said connection alternatively to the interior of said shell and to the space between said shell and brush head; and a swinging actuator for said valve mounted adjacent one end of said handle.

3. The combination of two perforate shells, one being removably mounted within and in spaced relation to the other and adapted to contain soap; a brush structure pervious to water, said brush structure surrounding the outer of said shells and being sustained thereby; and a two-way valve adapted to deliver water to the brush alternatively through Said inner' shell or through the space intervening between Said shells.

4. rIhe combination of a fitting having a water connection; a hollow brush head removably mounted thereon, said head including a hollow shell of foraminous material serving as a base for the brush structure; a hollow foraminous 'shell smaller than the Shell of said brush and releaeably mounted Within the same on said fitting; and a manually operable two-way valve in said fitting Serving to admit water alternatively to the interior of said smaller shell and to the space intervening between said shells.

5. rlhe combination of a fitting having a water connection; a rotary disc valve in said fitting having two concentric annular series of porte, the two series opening in alternation; two oraminous shells one mounted within the other; means for releasahly holding said shells in such coactive relation with said valve, that one series of porte serves to admit water to the inner shell and the other series of ports serves to admit water to the space between said shells; and a removable hollow fountain brush head Surrounding said outer shell.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY K. RUTHERFORD. 

